A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Tosto

by George Grove

TOSTO. Più tosto^[1] (plutôt) is an expression occasionally used by Beethoven, as in the second of the Sonatas for PF. and cello (op. 5)—'Allegro molto, più tosto presto'; or the second of the three Sonatas for PF. and violin (op. 12)—'Andante, più tosto Allegretto.' The meaning in these cases is 'Allegro molto, or rather presto,' and 'Andante, or rather Allegretto.' It has the same force with 'quasi'—'Andante quasi Allegretto' (op. 9, no. 2.) i.e. 'Andante, as if Allegretto.'

[ G. ]

1. 'Rather than the Madonna del Granduca shall leave Florence,' said Cavour, 'Piutosto mi faccio fare la guerru.' (Times of June 12. 1884 P. 8a.)